Tug and Pipes review
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| A sideways look at what’s new on Tug of War/Pipes of Peace. Photo: MPL/Hear Music. |
Miguel Carrera from Mexico City has sent us his review of the new “Tug of War”/”Pipes of Peace” bonus material:
Here is my review of the two new Archives Bonus CDs. I think anyone else can give their opinion on the remastered and “remixed” versions (the advance sampler comes with the ‘Remixed’ Tug of War only, not the ‘Remastered’), but there are no substantial difference with the past versions in my opinion, even the “remixed” Tug Of War which has LOUD vocals, and instruments and orchestras, but no alternate elements (like different vocals, extra instruments, etc), so I won’t go deeper on those.
So, here my review, maybe you’ll find it helpful in some way.
Sadly there is no new material on ‘Tug Of War’, for those of us who are familiar with the bootleg recordings, but ALL the demos have been remastered and speed corrected (that’s why they run longer than the bootleg versions), sometimes they cut off a few seconds of original sound (Paul playing a few notes, some background noises, etc.)
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| Tug of War |
TUG OF WAR – Bonus Audio
01. Stop, You Don’t Know Where She Came From [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs.
02. Wanderlust [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the intro is slightly edited (4 seconds). Complete on bootlegs.
03. Ballroom Dancing [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs.
04. Take It Away [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs.
05. The Pound Is Sinking [Demo] (2015 Remaster)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs.
06. Something That Didn’t Happen [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the intro is slightly edited . Complete on bootlegs, where it is known as ‘Hear Me Lover’.
07. Ebony and Ivory [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the intro is slightly edited (3 seconds). Complete on bootlegs.
08. Dress Me Up As a Robber/Robber Riff [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs. (3 separate demos in one)
09. Ebony and Ivory [Solo Version] (B-side of Ebony and Ivory 12” single)
10. Rainclouds (B-side of Ebony and Ivory 7” single)
11. I’ll Give You a Ring (B-side of Take It Away single)
All 3, this is the first time they are out on an official CD.
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| Pipes of Peace |
PIPES OF PEACE – Bonus Audio
01. Average Person [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs.
02. Keep Under Cover [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the very same version as on bootlegs.
03. Sweetest Little Show [Demo] (previously unreleased)
Speed corrected but the intro is slightly edited (3 seconds). Complete on bootlegs.
04. It’s Not On [Demo] (previously unreleased)
NEW 3 minute demo!! Unreleased song. Many changes in rhythm, I think one of Paul’s daughters sings the first part.
05. Simple As That [Demo] (previously unreleased)
NEW 3 minute 15 sec demo!! This is NOT the 1986 song. And not one of the best I’ve heard. Weird one that sounds like a John demo from the late 70’s!!
06. Say Say Say [2015 Remix] (previously unreleased)
NEW!! This was a surprise, it’s an alternate vocal take from start to finish! On this one, Michael takes the lead vocal first, instead of Paul (as on the official record) and continues thru all the song (MJ sings Paul’s parts and vice versa). The only “remix” I can hear is on the backing track, which does sounds like the released version, mixed. Glorious 7 minutes of alternate take!
07. Ode to a Koala Bear (B-side of ‘Say Say Say’ single)
First time on official CD.
08. Twice in a Lifetime (bonus track from 1993)
Nothing new
09. Christian Bop (previously unreleased)
A demo recording from 1984 on a compilation from 1980-83??. Still, the very SAME version as on bootlegs, and also, NOT “unreleased”, since it’s included on ‘Liverpool Oratorio’ under a different treatment. Sometimes called on boots “Christian Pop”.
The DVDs contain the common video clips. The second version of the ‘Tug of War’ video has been in circulation among collectors since more than 10 years ago, still, very good that it’s finally official. This version is VERY similar BUT NOT the same as other unreleased Macca video: ‘Here Today’. It’s a mix of studio footage from the sessions, the mixing of the album, plus Paul doing some press interviews. The unreleased version of ‘Tug of War’, contains Japanese journalists on the footage, for example, but the ‘Here Today’ video does not contains any of the press interviews but adds more studio footage, sadly ‘Here Today’ was not released on this Archive set. The “other” ‘Here Today’ video with a collage of John Lennon pics is FAKE, by the way, many fans think is real and it has appeared on many video compilations through the years, but is a FAKE ONE, a BIG ONE! The making of ‘Take it Away’ and home footage from Montserrat and AIR studios makes these boxes worth to get! I will go deeper on those later.
I think something that is not noted here, and is a big reason why many people buy these sets, is that the bonus tracks on both albums will be in upgraded quality when compared to bootlegs. Yes, the same tracks, and edited in places, but the official releases will be taken from master reels.
I buy deluxe sets for the video extras and the improved sound quality of the original album. If the bootlegs are good, then that is a bonus. Some of the bootlegs are really wonderful. Others, for my own taste, they are interesting but (IMHO) not worth listening to more than a few times.
Hope that Wildlife, London Town, Red Rose Speedway, Back to the Egg get the deluxe treatment…..Some of that retro rawness is a welcome reprise from the sometimes overproduced output we are hearing today. All things being equal, not many rockers in their 70s can produce a commercially viable and respectable and quite listenable set of tunes as Macca has proven he can do.
Hello Mr Helter Skelter, some demos Paul don't have anymore the 'master reels', plus, they were recorded on portable tape recorders in some cases, so, no master reels are available.
Tapes that Paul don't have anymore and he had to buy a bootleg himself (as silly as it may sounds), was the 'Piano Tape', plus others.